Marcos approval score slips deeper into negative

PRESIDENT Ferdinand R. Marcos, Jr.’s net satisfaction rating fell to -15 in March, down from -3 in November 2025, as public dissatisfaction widened across major regions, according to a Social Weather Stations (SWS) survey released on Tuesday.

The national survey, conducted from March 24 to 31, showed 33% of adult Filipinos were satisfied with Mr. Marcos, 18% were undecided and 49% were dissatisfied, resulting in a net satisfaction score of -15, classified by SWS as “poor.”

The decline reflects weakening approval across all major regions, with the sharpest drops recorded in Metro Manila and Mindanao.

In Metro Manila, Mr. Marcos’ net satisfaction fell to -31 from -17 in November, while in Mindanao it slid to -40 from -29. The rest of Luzon remained the President’s strongest region at 2, though this was down from 13.

Urban respondents were more critical than rural respondents, with urban net satisfaction at -20 compared with -9 in rural areas.

The survey also showed steep declines among younger and more educated respondents. Filipinos aged 25 to 34 recorded a drop to -40 from -17, while college graduates fell to -37 from -14.

Respondents who said their quality of life had worsened over the past year gave Mr. Marcos a net score of -26, compared with positive or near-neutral ratings among those who reported improvement or stability.

The SWS report comes amid mounting political and economic pressures on the administration, including inflation concerns brought by surging oil prices due to the Iran war and heightened public scrutiny of governance issues in the second half of Mr. Marcos’ six-year term.

Attention to the President’s health also surfaced in the survey following his diverticulitis episode in January. SWS said 35% of respondents believed he was in good health, 30% said he was not and 35% were undecided.

Skepticism was higher in Mindanao and among college-educated respondents, according to the poll.

The nationwide survey covered 1,500 adults through face-to-face interviews. It had a margin of error of ±3% for national figures, ±4% for Balance Luzon, and ±6% for Metro Manila, the Visayas and Mindanao.

SWS said the survey was noncommissioned and conducted on its own initiative. — Chloe Mari A. Hufana